Even blind box hunters don't choose their partners? I got Su Daji from my blind box!

The atmosphere in the Huayang Wuhan University rest area was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.

It's not because the opponents are too strong, but because there are too many wolves and not enough meat to go around!

"I'll go first."

Ye Chen held his sword, as cold as a block of ice, but his tone was domineering and unquestionable.

"That guy surnamed Wang looks so awful, I want to get him plastic surgery."

"Why should I?"

Bai Ling's slender fingertips twirled around the colorful poisonous spider, her smile overflowing with sweetness, yet a wisp of chilling purple mist emanated from between her fingers.

"I recently mastered the 'Ten Thousand Poisons Devouring the Heart' technique and I'm just short of a live specimen. Brother Ye Chen, if you try to take it from me, you might find a few fluffy little cuties in your bed tonight~"

Nalan Qing pushed up his glasses, a rational glint flashing across the lenses.

"Based on big data modeling, Wang Zichen's defensive blind spot is three inches below his left rib. Only my telekinetic throwing knife can achieve zero error with this kind of precise surgical strike. For the sake of team efficiency, everyone please step aside."

Mo Daozi covered his forehead, feeling his blood pressure on a rollercoaster.

Other schools' formations are like the strategy of Tian Ji's horse racing, using elemental advantages and disadvantages, as if they want to study Sun Tzu's Art of War to death.

These bastards are really something, they're fighting over a buffet!

The kind where if you're even a step too late, you won't even get to drink the soup?

"that……"

Lin Xiao weakly raised his hand, trying to survive in the predicament.

"How about... I go first? I promise I'll hold back, using only my little finger, and I absolutely won't reveal my fourth-tier strength, okay?"

"No!"

Four voices spoke in unison, directly shoving Lin Xiao back into the sofa.

Mo Daozi was so angry that his beard trembled, and he kicked Lin Xiao's calf with a feint.

"Get lost! What are you doing here, nuclear weapon? Who throws out a royal flush right from the start in a game of Dou Dizhu? You better stay here and be the mascot! Don't get out of your chair unless it's absolutely necessary!"

Lin Xiao was stripped of his "right to show off" and slumped back onto the leather sofa with a look of utter despair, like a salted fish that had lost its dreams.

"Your Majesty~"

A soft, sweet cry rang out, melting her very bones.

Su Daji had peeled a crystal-clear grape at some point, held it between her slender white fingers, and gently brought it to Lin Xiao's lips, her eyes filled with seductive allure.

"Why bother arguing with them over those menial and tiring tasks? Leave the fighting and killing to the servants. Your Majesty is the ruler of heaven and earth; you only need to sit here and be as beautiful as a flower!"

Beside him, Chang'e, with her aloof and ethereal demeanor, gently waved a round fan in her delicate hand, dispelling some of the heat from Lin Xiao's body. Her cool voice carried a hint of subtle doting affection.

"Sister Daji is right. My husband only needs to watch. If they are not up to par, I will go and dismantle that bird's nest."

"Gulp."

Zhang Xuan, Ye Chen, and the others who were arguing heatedly nearby all swallowed hard.

Seeing Lin Xiao's smug, "I'm surrounded by women, a true winner in life" attitude, everyone's fighting spirit instantly soared to its peak—

I have to go on stage! I have to vent! Otherwise, this dog food will kill me!

"Stop arguing!"

Mo Daozi slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups jump around.

"Since everyone wants to attend, let's decide in the fairest, most impartial, and most in line with the style of Huayang Wuhan University!"

The group of prodigies tensed up and all looked at Elder Mo.

Could it be... a contest of qi and blood?

Or is it a clash of souls?

Mo Daozi took a deep breath and said in a deep voice.

"Rock, paper, scissors! One round to decide the winner! Winner goes first!"

The entire venue fell silent for three seconds.

Then.

Four top talents, capable of stirring up storms in the outside world and admired by countless peers, formed a circle with serious expressions.

His expression was even more solemn than when facing a ninth-level grandmaster, as if he were performing some kind of ritual that would determine the fate of humanity.

"Ready—"

Mo Daozi acted as the referee, raising his hand high.

Ye Chen's hand rested on the sword hilt, his knuckles turning white.

Zhang Xuan was muttering incantations, seemingly asking the ancestral master for divine intervention.

Nalan Qing's pupils contracted rapidly behind his glasses as his brain quickly calculated the probability of each person throwing a punch.

"Rock, Paper, Scissors!"

brush!

Four hands are extended at the same time.

Ye Chen: Cloth.

Nalan Qing: Cloth.

Bai Ling: Cloth.

Zhang Xuan: ...Scissors!

After a deathly silence.

"Hahahaha! Boundless Heavenly Venerable! I, the Daoist, have won! I've won!"

Zhang Xuan suddenly burst into a fit of pig-like laughter, leaping three feet high from the ground.

He brandished that peach wood sword wrapped in transparent tape, looking more frenzied than if he had won the lottery.

"Did you cast a divination beforehand?"

Nalan Qing pushed up his glasses, his tone full of doubt.

"This Taoist priest's success was all luck! You're too kind! Everyone, you're too kind!"

Zhang Xuan smugly cupped his hands, his irritating expression making Ye Chen's fingers rub the hilt of his sword several times before he barely managed to resist drawing his sword and chopping the guy down.

"Bang!"

Lin Xiao couldn't stand it anymore and kicked Zhang Xuan in the butt.

"Stop howling! Get back to getting ready! If you lose, I'll hang you on a streetlight to dry!"

……

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Yanjing Wuhan University Gymnasium.

When commentator Jing Yang's penetrating voice announced the start of the match, the atmosphere at the scene reached its peak.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The highly anticipated opening match is about to begin!"

"The two opposing teams are the long-established powerhouse, Huajing Martial Arts University, and this year's biggest dark horse—Huayang Martial Arts University, which boasts the 'god-like' Lin Xiao!"

The large screen suddenly lit up.

The starting lineups for both sides are clearly listed.

[Huajing Wuhan University]

Starting lineup: Wang Zichen (Captain/Second-tier Martial Artist)

Second striker: Ruan Qingyu (Peak of Tier 1)

……

Huayang Wuhan University

Starting lineup: Zhang Xuan (Member/Peak Tier 1)

……

Commander-in-Chief: Lin Xiao (Captain/Second-Tier Martial Artist)

The announcement of the list caused an uproar.

"Holy crap? What kind of troop deployment is this?"

Commentator Jing Yang was also stunned, holding his headset, his tone filled with disbelief.

"Huajing Martial Arts University actually sent their strongest fighter, Wang Zichen, to lead the charge? This is a blitzkrieg, aiming for a one-versus-five victory!"

"And Huayang Martial Arts University... Lin Xiao is actually last? Is this a case of Tian Ji's horse racing strategy? Or is it just disrespect?"

On the arena.

Wang Zichen, dressed in silver-white, stood proudly with an alloy longsword in hand, practically radiating spotlight effect.

He looked at Zhang Xuan, who was wearing a tattered Taoist robe, with messy hair and carrying a broken wooden sword, and his contempt was almost overflowing.

He picked up the microphone, ignoring Zhang Xuan, and looked directly at the rest area of ​​Huayang Martial Arts University.

His gaze pierced through the distance of several dozen meters, locking onto Lin Xiao, who was slumped in a chair eating grapes.

"Lin Xiao!"

Wang Zichen's voice, transmitted through the speakers, echoed throughout the Bird's Nest stadium, carrying a sense of superior judgment.

"What do you mean by hiding at the back?"

"Are you afraid your weak, second-tier strength will be exposed, and you'll be instantly killed by me, leaving you humiliated? You coward!"

Boos erupted from the audience.

All the pressure was instantly placed on Huayang Wuda.

Faced with this overwhelming ridicule, Zhang Xuan on the stage seemed not to hear it at all.

He slowly picked at his ear, then blew into the microphone.

"Hoo—Hey? Can you hear me?"

After confirming the microphone wasn't broken, Zhang Xuan raised his eyelids, looked at Wang Zichen with an expression that suggested he was mentally challenged, and said lazily.

"I mean, that guy... what's his name, Chen?"

"Do I, Brother Lin, need to deal with someone like you? You think too highly of yourself."

Zhang Xuan grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth. He casually twirled the peach wood sword in his hand, and the transparent tape reflected a cheap luster under the light.

"I, Dao Ye, can take your whole team back to your hometown by myself. Just in time for dinner."

mad!

Even more arrogant than Wang Zichen!

This is utterly humiliating!

Wang Zichen laughed in anger, and with a sudden jerk of his longsword, a clear, ringing sound echoed throughout the arena.

"Good! Very good!"

"Since Lin Xiao wants to play the coward, I'll cripple you first, then wipe out those three good-for-nothings behind you! And then I'll crush Lin Xiao!"

"I'm going to use this four-in-a-row victory to tell everyone that these so-called geniuses are nothing but a complete joke!"

Even among the most talented individuals, there can be a world of difference!

The referee sensed the tension between the two sides, which was almost palpable, and suddenly waved his hand and shouted.

"The match begins!"

boom!

Before he finished speaking, Wang Zichen's blood and qi suddenly erupted.

The pressure from a second-tier martial artist materialized into a tangible wave, sweeping outwards.

With a stomp of his foot, the specially made arena floor instantly cracked.

He transformed into a silver lightning bolt, his long sword carrying the force to split mountains and shatter rocks, slashing down at Zhang Xuan!

"Die!"

This strike was swift, precise, and ruthless, without any fancy moves; it was a true method of killing in actual combat!

The audience gasped in shock, as if they could already see the disheveled Taoist priest bleeding profusely on the spot.

however.

Faced with this thunderous strike, Zhang Xuan stood still, completely unmoved.

He didn't even lift his eyelids.

Just as the blade was less than three inches from his forehead, and the strong wind ruffled his hair.

A strange, wicked smile appeared on Zhang Xuan's face.

The broken peach wood sword in his hand suddenly emitted a chilling golden light.

"What's the rush?"

"I'm going to teach you a lesson now, what is meant by... the Boundless Heavenly Venerable."

--------

[Wang Zichen] is from reader @Yunyouyy, and [Ruan Qingyu] is from reader @Xihuan Piaobojiu de Yushi.

Claim it in the comments section!

Also, with the Lunar New Year approaching, here's a five-star review, guys, what do you think? (evil grin)